With winters coming in, it is an ideal time to plan a trip to "The Queen of Hills". Here are the top 10 reasons to visit Shimla, that is a delightful escape from daily hustle bustle of life.

1. The Mall

On walking up to The Mall—Shimla’s main street, you’ll come across the loveliest sights. Home to some famous local attractions like the Christ Church and markets operating from vintage colonial buildings, The Mall is truly the heart of this hill station.

The Mall at Shimla (by Aleksandr Zykov)

The Mall at Shimla (by Artist in doing nothing)

2. Observatory Hill

The old Viceregal Lodge is perhaps the most resonant of old structures in Shimla. If you go there by foot, there are interesting stops on this 2-hour walk from the Mall.

Viceregal Lodge at Shimla (by File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske))

3. Jakhoo Hill

Jakhoo Hill, towering over the ridge, is Shimla’s highest point, with a Hanuman Temple on top. The huge red Hanuman statue built in front of the temple is clearly visible from The Mall and the Ridge. Sunset views here are especially magnificent during the monsoons.

Don’t miss the Lakkar Bazaar. The bustling market is famous for woodwork as it is lined with shops selling lovely souvenirs.

Local shopping in Shimla (by sach1tb)

6. Beautiful Churches

Apart from the famous Christ Church, Shimla has a number of magnificent churches, which are a huge tourist draw.

Christ Church (by Nick Irvine-Fortescue)

Christ Church at night (by Samir Azad)

7. Mashobra and ChailIf you have enough time on your hands and want to explore some nice places around Shimla, plan a day’s outing to Chail and Mashobra, which are at a distance of 60 km and 14 km respectively.

Scenic beauty at Chail (by JC Ramek)

8. Shopping in Shimla

There are many local bazaars in Shimla, where you can buy snuggly woolens, decor items, Tibetan carpets, plum and apple wines as well as other souvenirs.

Local market in Shimla (by marksquared)

9. Eating Out

Most good restaurants in Shimla are clustered around The Mall area. Himachal Tourism’s Ashiana Restaurant, right on The Ridge, is very popular. Alfa on Scandal Point also dishes out good food. Devicos serves Indian, Continental and Chinese cuisines, and has a bar as well. Baljees is hugely popular, with a choice of Indian, Chinese, Continental and Thai cuisines.

A Thai dish (by bochalla)

10. A Ride on Kalka Shimla Toy TrainDon’t miss the metre-gauge heritage toy train ride from Kalka to Shimla for one of the most spectacular rail journeys you’ll ever experience. It’s a 6-hour climb up the Shivaliks.

Kalka Shimla Toy Train (by AHEMSLTD)

Kalka Shimla Toy Train (by AHEMSLTD)

So, all set to explore the magic of this charming hill station this winter? We hope you experience these 10 reasons to visit Shimla and much more. So go ahead and enjoy a happy vacation amidst snow and mountains!

There are numerous things to see and experience in Shimla, provided you have the right information. With a host of exciting things to do in Shimla, travelers can thoroughly enjoy the experience of exploring this destination. If you are travelling for the first time, the Shimla travel guide may help resolve most of your queries about Shimla. In fact, it is like a veritable information packed handbook on Shimla tourism. All you need is a list of options on topics such as where to stay, what to eat, weather in Shimla and places to visit in Shimla and you can be guaranteed an awesome trip to Shimla.